Rowing machine suspension device

ABSTRACT

A support lift for a physically disabled user, without additional assistance from another person, to access and use a rowing a machine is provided. The support lift may include a support line and a handle mounted above the seat of the rowing machine. Therefore, the user may grasp the handle and lower onto the seat of the rowing machine without assistance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to exercise equipment and, more particularly, to a suspension device that allows a person with physical disabilities to gain safe unassisted access to a rowing machine.

An indoor rower, or rowing machine, is a machine used to simulate the action of rowing on water in a crew “shell” for the purpose of exercise or training for rowing. Indoor rowing has become established as a sport in its own right. The term “rower” also refers to a participant in this sport. Modern indoor rowers are often known as ergometers (colloquially, “erg” or “ergo”), an ergometer being a device which allows a rower on and to simulate rowing on water while measuring the amount of work performed. The indoor rowing ergometer is calibrated to measure the amount of energy the rower is using through his or her use of the equipment.

One of the well known aspects of rowing, whether on water in a crew shell or on land by using ergometers, is that it is a “full body” exercise in which a majority of the muscles of the body are used simultaneously. Furthermore, it is also well known that the rowing motion itself, being a seated exercise, is very low impact, meaning that the joints are not subjected by the rowing motion to the physical impact caused by many other sports involving running or jumping. These two well known aspects of the sport of rowing make it suitable for physical rehabilitation of persons with lower torso injuries such as hip fractures or knee replacements.

The seats of existing rowing machine ergometers are too low to be accessed by persons with leg, hip or back issues who desire to row for rehabilitation. Raising the rowing machine ergometer to make it safely accessible to a person in a walker also may render the ergometer unstable while increasing substantially the distance of any accidental fall. Further, even if raised, additional assistance from a second person would be required to access the rowing machine. Because the seats are too low, rowing machine ergometers exist in health clubs worldwide, but not in medical rehabilitation facilities.

As can be seen, there is a need for a support device allowing the physically disabled to use a rowing machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an exercise support apparatus comprises: a rowing machine comprising a rowing machine base having a front end and a rear end, with a seat disposed in between; and a support line comprising a handle, wherein the support line is suspended above the seat and is substantially perpendicular to the rowing machine base.

In another aspect of the present invention, an exercise support apparatus comprises: a frame base formed to fixedly secure to a rowing machine; a vertical support post substantially perpendicular to and extending from the frame base; a horizontal support arm substantially perpendicular to and extending from the vertical support post configured to be positioned over the rowing machine; and a support line comprising a handle hanging from the horizontal support arm.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the present invention demonstrating operator in full upright position;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the present invention demonstrating operator in mid-upright position;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the present invention demonstrating operator in sitting position; and

FIG. 5 is a side view of the invention demonstrating exemplary pivot of the horizontal support arm of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a support lift for disabled users of a rowing a machine. The support lift may include a support line and a handle mounted above the seat of the rowing machine. Therefore, the user may grasp the handle and lower themselves into the seat of the rowing machine.

The present invention allows a disabled person, in a walker but with upper body arm strength, to safely lower his or her body on to the rowing machine ergometer seat without assistance. The present invention allows a person with leg, hip or back injury to safely lower his or her body from the height of a walker (4 ft) down to the ergometer seat height (1 ft) without additional assistance.

Referring to FIG. 1 through 5, the present invention includes an exercise support apparatus for a rowing machine 12. The rowing machine 12 may be a standard rowing machine 12. For example, the rowing machine 12 may include a rowing machine base 11 having a front end and a rear end. A pulley and flywheel may be attached near the front end, with a seat 30 disposed in between the front end and the rear end. In certain embodiments, the front end may be supported by a stanchion 38 and a cross brace 42. The rear end may be supported by a support bracket 15. The present invention may further include a support line 24 having a handle 18. The support line 24 may be suspended above the seat 30 and is substantially perpendicular to the rowing machine base 11.

In certain embodiments, the support line 24 may be supported by a support structure. For example, the support line 24 may be attached to a ceiling above the rowing machine 12, or a self supporting frame 17. The frame 17 of the present invention may include a frame base 10, a vertical support post 34, and a horizontal support arm 26. The frame base 10 may support the frame 17 in an upright position when resting on a surface 32. The vertical support post 34 may extend from the frame base 10 and may be substantially perpendicular to the frame base 10. The horizontal support arm 26 be extend from the vertical support post 34 and may be substantially perpendicular to the vertical support post 34. The horizontal support arm 26 extends over the rowing machine 12, and the support line 24 may hang from the horizontal support arm 26.

The support line 24 of the present invention may attach to and run along the frame 17. In certain embodiments, a plurality of pulleys 22 may run along an outer perimeter of the frame 17. The support line 24 may run along the pulleys 22. In certain embodiments, the present invention may include a motor 16 such as an electrical motor 16. The support line 24 may roll around a wheel of the motor 16, and the motor 16 may extend and retract the support line 24 along the frame 17. Therefore, the motor 16 may lower and raise the support line 24 relative to the seat 30. In certain embodiments, the handle 18 may include control buttons 20 that operatively connect to the electrical motor 16. Therefore, a user 36 may operate the motor 16 using the buttons 20.

In certain embodiments, the vertical support post 34 and the horizontal support arm 26 may pivot relative to one another. In such embodiments, the frame 17 of the present invention may include a pivoting locking assembly 28. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the horizontal support arm 26 may be pivoted and locked in position using the pivoting locking assembly 28.

The front end of the rowing machine 12 may fixedly connected to the frame base 10. The frame base 10 may include a first arm and a second arm. Extending from the first arm and the second arm may be a C-shaped bracket 40. The cross brace 42 of the front end of the rowing machine 12 may fit within the C-shaped brackets 40 of the first arm and the second arm. Therefore, the base 11 may be secured to the frame 17. Further, in certain embodiments, the frame 17 may be further connected to the rowing machine 12 by a connecter 14. Due to the connections mentioned above, the rowing machine 12 may be in a fixed position relative to the frame 17.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 through FIG. 5, a method of using the present invention may include the following. The horizontal support arm 26 is pivoted and fixed relative to the vertical support post 34. The user 36 may grasp the handle 18. The user 36 may then activate the button 20 that lowers the support line 24, thereby lowering the user 36 into the seat 30. The user 36 may perform his or her exercise workout. Once the user 36 is finished, the user 36 may grasp the handle 18 and activate a button 20 that raises the support line 24, thereby raising the user up from the seat 30.

In certain embodiments, the buttons 20, motor 16, and pulleys 22 may not be needed for certain users with sufficient arm strength alone to lower himself or herself down on to the seat 30 while grasping the handle 18 suspended in a fixed position over the seat 30.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An exercise support apparatus comprising: a rowing machine comprising a rowing machine base having a front end and a rear end, a flywheel comprising a pulley secured at the front end, and a seat attached to the base in between the flywheel and the rear end; a frame; and a handle hanging from the frame by a support line, wherein the handle is disposed in between the front end and the rear end of the rowing machine above the seat.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The exercise support apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises: a frame base configured to support the frame in an upright position when resting on a surface; a vertical support post substantially perpendicular to and extending from the frame base; and a horizontal support arm substantially perpendicular to and extending from the vertical support post over the rowing machine base.
 4. The exercise support apparatus of claim 3, wherein the support line runs along the vertical support post and the horizontal support arm and is positioned over the seat.
 5. The exercise support apparatus of claim 3, further comprising an electrical motor configured to lower and raise the support line relative to the seat.
 6. The exercise support apparatus of claim 5, further comprising control buttons on the handle and operatively connected to the electrical motor.
 7. The exercise support apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a plurality of pulleys mounted along the frame, wherein the support line runs through the plurality of pulleys.
 8. The exercise support apparatus of claim 3, wherein the horizontal support arm is pivotally connected to the vertical support post by a pivoting locking assembly.
 9. The exercise support apparatus of claim 3, wherein the frame base comprises a first arm and a second arm formed to fixedly secure the front end of the rowing machine in between. 10.-15. (canceled) 